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Fines double for seat-belt offences (From Droitwich Advertiser)
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Fines double for seat-belt offences
8:10pm Thursday 2nd July 2009
MOTORISTS in south Worcestershire have been urged by police not to fall foul of increased fixed penalties for seat-belt offences.
As from Tuesday, June 30 fines have now doubled - from £30 to £60 - for all seat-belt offences, whether involving the driver, adult passengers and/or children.
Between April 2007 and March 2008, 2,203 fixed penalties were issued for seat-belt offences – 1,029 in Worcester City, 868 in Wychavon and 306 in Malvern Hills.
In the following 12 months – April 2008 to March 2009 – the number dropped drastically to a total of 1,418, with Wychavon topping the offences table with 622, while Worcester had 502 and Malvern Hills 294.
Combined fines for the two periods were £108,630.
If the same number of offences occur during the next two years, drivers will face fines totalling £217,260.
A spokesman from South Worcestershire Police said: “The 100 per cent increase is a timely reminder of just how important it is for everyone in every vehicle to always wear a seat-belt.
“We always hope that the vast majority of drivers - and passengers - view wearing seat-belts as a positive in terms of road safety. If, however, a hand-full see it as avoiding an increased fine then that is good too.”
Mr Mike Digger, traffic management adviser to South Worcestershire Police, said: “While the number of fatalities on the division is steadily falling, there has been an increase in the number of these tragic incidents where – we believe – a fatality may not have occurred if a seat-belt had been worn.
“Similarly with road traffic incidents resulting in serious injuries. In many case, these injuries could have been greatly minimised if those involved had been using a seat-belt.
“Anything that encourages seat-belt usage – including doubling fines, which tends to make people more focused – has to be welcomed.”
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Your Say Your Droitwich
worcester80, worcester says...
8:42pm Thu 2 Jul 09
Flagman, Warndon says...
9:07pm Thu 2 Jul 09
skychip, Worcester says...
9:11pm Thu 2 Jul 09
Flagman, Warndon says...
9:19pm Thu 2 Jul 09
chrisnewmanuk, Worcester says...
9:40pm Thu 2 Jul 09
CJH, Worcester says...
9:57pm Thu 2 Jul 09
chrisnewmanuk wrote:Is this correct? If we ring up with a vehicle reg number and details of what happened can the police take acion? Or does it have to be seen by a police officer?
We all know the police can never be everywhere and catch everyone - but everyone of us can report these things to the police to be dealt with.
Flagman, Warndon says...
9:58pm Thu 2 Jul 09
TmP, worcester says...
5:23am Fri 3 Jul 09
Rob Martin, Worcester says...
2:06am Sat 4 Jul 09
chrisnewmanuk, Worcester says...
2:13pm Wed 8 Jul 09
Flagman wrote:Anyone can witness an offence and report it to police and give their evidence. Thats how the system works. Thats how police get work to do!
Sadly, it requires a police officer to report the matter - on duty or off duty. The evidence of the general public, on such matters, would be discounted.
Your sayYour Droitwich
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Fines double for seat-belt offences
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yeller, Worcester says...
8:15pm Thu 2 Jul 09